RYPIEN JOINS CONCUSSION LAWSUIT

Add 1992 Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien to the ever-growing list of former players suing the NFL because, they say, more should have been done to inform them about concussions and more can be done now to help them.

The former Washington Redskins quarterback is among more than 120 players who are plaintiffs in a recent addition to the dozens of lawsuits pending in federal court in Philadelphia.

Rypien has dealt with depression and has problems remembering simple things, including conversations with his girlfriend — so they record themselves talking.

He said he had two diagnosed concussions during 11 seasons in the NFL, which included a championship with the Redskins, and stints with the Cleveland Browns, St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts. But he also says there were more than 20 hits that left him feeling “not in touch with my body.”

During a telephone interview Thursday, Rypien recalled absorbing a big hit late in a game — “You get dinged, and you feel your head ringing, and your teeth chatter,” he said — and then going to the sideline and being told by Redskins coach Joe Gibbs late in a game to run a play called “50 Gut.”

“I go, ‘What? We don’t have that in our playbook,’ ” Rypien said. “Of course, it was, like, a routine play that we ran time and time again.”

Around the league

Linebacker Philip Wheeler, considered one of the bright spots on a poor Colts defense in 2011, said on his Twitter account he is making a free agent visit to the Raiders.

• The Broncos have re-signed versatile free agent defensive end Jason Hunter, completing one of their offseason priorities.

• Former Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb wonders whether Washington coach Mike Shanahan will be able to get the most out of Robert Griffin III if, as expected, the team drafts the Heisman Trophy winner. During an appearance Thursday on ESPN2’s “First Take,” McNabb was asked whether Shanahan is a good fit for the Baylor quarterback known as RG3. “No,” McNabb replied. “I say that because a lot of times ego gets too involved when it comes to being in Washington.”

• Free agent defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove agreed to a deal with the Packers. Hargrove has 191/2 sacks in 102 career games. He played for Seattle last season and had three sacks.

• Decisions are still pending on a possible appeal of Sean Payton’s suspension or an interim coach should his season-long punishment be upheld. Payton, GM Mickey Loomis and their staffs were in meetings at the team’s suburban headquarters and focused primarily on preparations for next month’s NFL draft.